Sports Photography for non-pro (200mm)

[dancook]

I'm not a big sports fan, but I do love photography. I've just bought a 200mm f2, and I'm looking to explore its uses.

I understand that it's often heralded as an indoor sports lens due to the shorter focal length and fast aperture. So, basketball, ice hockey?

I live near Guildford, and would like to find these opportunities to use it - any suggestions?

Although the other question is, is a non-pro (i.e. audience member) going to be able to use their white lens and get good shots?

Cheers, Dan

 

[KIPAX]

hmmm... 200 prime is a bit limiting for either sport on its own.. I cover both sports... I crave for 300 at ice hockey... the 135 prime is a tad too long at basketball ..

However i would love to own the lens and would us it on a second body in conjunction wiht a short lens... then would be great for basketball and such like for sure. enable you to get both ends of the playing area ..

Saying that.. you wil get somehting and you will ahve an advantage with f2

 

[GooGaBu]

I own the 'legendary' Canon 200mm f1.8 lens - even if when it eventually breaks, it will become a decorative piece on the bookshelf ;-)

As someone who has done a lot of Ice Hockey and Basketball - both seasons which are about to finish in the coming weeks!!

For basketball (your local team being Surrey Heat - playing at SSP) - you either need permission from the club or write to the BBL for the Press Pass (if you have genuine reason for requesting one).
As a member of public - my guess is that with a lens that size.. someone might request you not to use it if you are at the stands.. and you would not be able to take court side position to photograph.
For basketball - the league starts again in September, and I think even Team GB games might be elsewhere this year..

As for the usability of 200mm prime in basketball - I do like to occasionally use the 200mm f1.8 to capture specific images that clients have requested.
But I would not be comfortable using that as my only lens to cover a game.. and the f1.8 is a BRICK so not really suitable for quick swapping between that and another lens.
The 1.8 is unforgiving with the focusing.. get it slightly off and you'll notice it ;-) But it is also absolutely brilliant when there is no/little crowd and you want to blur the bleachers.

For Ice Hockey - haven't done much in the UK. But from the positions I've done it in bigger tournaments and back in Finland.. I'd be happy to have it as a second lens with maybe 70-200 /24-70 / 8-15 on the other body.
Also - in Ice Hockey, you would be unlikely to get to the rink side positions in the UK without contacting the club in advance (even then they give you some strange requests of where you can be positioned - read : Health&Safety)

 

[meonshore]

I'll use the 200 f/2 either wide open on it's own or with a 1.4x to cover court sports as my "far end" combination with a 70-200mm on another body, and a wide either to hand or as a remote. Again the wide aperture useful to eliminate backgrounds, but with all the caveats mentioned above.

I have to say that if you don't like sport, and you had no particular commission which needed a 200 f/2 then it is a strange purchase. Kind of a bit arse-about-face to buy a specialist lens and then try to find a reason to use it ?

As described above I think you would find that many indoor arenas would pick you up on that size of lens in the spectator area - give the size and likely incursion into the next row of seating / heads of the spectators infront of you. But it would depend on the level you are going to, and how busy the arena is.

For basketball (your local team being Surrey Heat - playing at SSP) - you either need permission from the club or write to the BBL for the Press Pass (if you have genuine reason for requesting one).
As a member of public - my guess is that with a lens that size.. someone might request you not to use it if you are at the stands.. and you would not be able to take court side position to photograph.

At Surrey Sports Park you'll also have to get an approval from the centre as well, even if you have authorisation from the league or a club and complete an agreement form and wear a sticker :arghh:.

 

[dancook]

I have to say that if you don't like sport, and you had no particular commission which needed a 200 f/2 then it is a strange purchase. Kind of a bit arse-about-face to buy a specialist lens and then try to find a reason to use it ?

My reason was portraiture/events, I thought I'd just explore other areas of photography that I never had the focal length for before

 

[meonshore]

My reason was portraiture/events, I thought I'd just explore other areas of photography that I never had the focal length for before

Fair enough - the 200 f/2 is a cracking portrait lens. Your OP didn't make any reference to it hence the confusion.